Santo Domingo.- The accusatory file of Operation Squid has revealed chilling details about an alleged criminal association led by senior government officials, including former Minister of Finance Donald Guerrero, former Administrative Minister of the Presidency José Ramón Peralta, and former Minister of Public Works and Communications Gonzalo Castle. According to the Public Ministry, this criminal network would have seriously affected the assets of the Dominican Republic through various illicit activities.
The Public Ministry identifies several criminal modalities used by this organization, among them:
- Contractor Program through the Reserve Bank: Illicit payments were made for a total of RD$20,904,831,250.65.
- Illicit payments of expropriations and recognition of administrative debts.
- Illicit payments of administrative debts based on fictitious payments.
- The Program or The Project: It consisted of the illegal collection of a monthly payment in lottery banks, sports stores and grocery stores with slot machines, coordinated by Donald Guerrero.
- Falsified affidavit to launder assets derived from acts of corruption.
According to the indictment, Donald Guerrero played a crucial role as the “top crime executive,” leading illicit activities with the collaboration of other senior officials. He is attributed with the organization and execution of multiple criminal actions that resulted in the diversion of more than RD$41,185,964,839.76 from the public treasury.
The document details that this sophisticated criminal network began its operations in 2012 and grew significantly from 2016, when Guerrero was appointed Minister of Finance. The accusation highlights that this criminal structure operated with the efficiency and complexity of a legitimate business holding company, but with the objective of perpetrating large-scale acts of corruption.
A graph included in the file shows that the criminal structure made illicit payments for expropriations and recognition of administrative debt, amounting to RD$20,281,133,589.11, and for lines of credit and State contractors through the Reserve Bank, totaling RD$20,904,831,250.65.
Operation Squid, one of the most significant investigations in the fight against corruption in the Dominican Republic, continues to unfold, and more details are expected to emerge as the judicial process progresses. Citizens and various civil organizations are attentive to the outcome of this case, which could set a precedent in transparency and justice in the country.
Source: Telemicro News
